Folding receptacle



June30,1936. H BATE 2,045,575

FOLDING RECEPTACLE 5 Original Filed March 13, 1935' INVENTOR.

'ATTORNEY.

Patented June 30, 1936 FEQ Application March 13, 1935, Serial No. 10,817 Renewed November 26, 1935 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in folding receptacles or containers, such as handbags, manicure-set cases, and the like, and is directed more particularly to the provision of folding receptacles having a novel frame of relatively rigid material associated therewith which makes possible the ready opening and closing of the receptacle.

It is a principal object of the invention to provide a folding receptacle which includes a novel frame which is simple in form so as to be economical to manufacture and which is so constructed that the opening of the receptacle is limited. This is desirable in receptacles of this type in order that objectionable buckling is obviated and so that the contents thereof may be displayed in a convenient manner.

It is another object of the inventionto provide a folding receptacle of this class which may be readily opened yet which, when closed, is compact and devoid of openings through which objectionable dust or dirt might enter.

It is also a principal object of the invention to provide a novel folding receptacle having hinged parts so arranged that the parts fit snugly together and there are no objectionable projections when the parts are in closed relation.

Various and many other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent after a reading of the following description and reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein: p 7

Fig. 1 is a side edge elevational view of the receptacle of the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a partial perspective view of the receptacle shown in Fig. 1 showing how-the frame is associated therewith;

' Fig. 3 is an end elevational viewof the frame of the invention with the ends thereof in closed relation; 7

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of a modified form of the frame of the invention with the ends thereof in closed relation; 7

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of the frame withthe parts thereof in extended relation;

Fig. '6 is an inverted plan View at large scale showing how the parts of the frame are hinged together;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the frame showing the hinge parts; and

Fig. 8 is a small scale perspective view of the receptacle in open display position.

' Referring now to the drawing more in the invention will be fully described.

According to the preferred form of the invendetail tion my new receptacle comprises a body member of foldable material, such'as leather, cloth, paper or thelike and a novel frame associated therewith in a distinctive manner about to be described.

The body member consists of a pair of side wall portions 2 of substantially equal area joined at adjacent marginal edges to an intermediate or end wall portion 4 and are so arranged that the side walls may be substantially parallel as shown in Fig. l. The body may be formed of a single piece of material or of a plurality of pieces, all as may be desired.

The frame of the invention broadly consists of a pair of substantially U-shaped members of relatively rigid material, such as metal, which are hinged together in such a way that they move relative to one another between a closed position, as shown in Fig. 1, and an extended or open position, as shown in Figs. 5 and 8. 7

Each U-shaped member is preferably formed of one piece of material, as by stamping or the like and includes a pair of substantially parallel 'side arms 6 and an intermediate end portion 8 which extends at approximately right angles to, and between, the outerends of the side arms 6.

The side arms 6 are preferably shorter than the length of the side walls 2 while the end or in termediate portions 8 are slightly shorter than the width of the side Walls. In this way, a U- shaped member may be associated with one side of a side wall 2 without projecting outwardly beyond the marginal edges thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. 35

As stated, the U-shaped frame members are connected to one another in hinged relation. This 'may' be accomplished by means of pins such as I2 which extend through the inner end portions of adjacent side arms. The hinges are so arranged that the U-shaped members may be swung into the position shown in Fig. l with the adjacent marginal edges of the side arms 'Sin abutment substantially throughout their lengths.

According to the preferred form of the invention, the inner ends of the side arms 6 are provided with parts which project slightly above the plane of their inner marginal edges, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. This is so that the connecting pins l2 may extend through the arms 6 at a point which is in substantial alignment with the said inner marginal edges thereof and consequently in alignment with the line of abutment of the arms when the frame members are in the position shown in Fig. 1. 55

These projecting portions are preferably relatively thinner than the side arms and may be formed by flattening out the inner end portions of the side arms and means is associated therewith to limit the outward swinging movements of the U-shaped members. This means may take the form of abutments 22 which are adapted to abut one another when the frame members are in extended relation as shown in Figs. 5 and 8.

Also, the inner end portion of each side arm 6 is preferably provided with a recess 20 adjacent the abutment 22 and these recesses may be formed by the flattening-out process. The frame members are then hinged to one another in such a way that the inner end portion of one side arm 5 is seated in the recess 29 of the corresponding side arm of the other U-shaped member, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will thus be seen (see Fig. 6) that the hinged parts interfit so that the frame is substantially of the same thickness throughout without any objectionable protruding portions.

According to the preferred form of the invention, the outer ends of the body member, that is, the outer ends of the side walls 2 are provided with loop-like portions 38 adapted to extend around the end walls 8 of the frame. It is desirable, as stated, that the inner marginal edges of the frame parts abut throughout when in folded relation and to this end the walls 8 are provided with inner recesses, such as shown at E6 in Fig. 3. In this way, when the frame members are in closed relation with the loops til extending about the walls 8, the foldable material does not project above the planes of the inner marginal edges of the walls. Thus the said marginal edges of the frame may be in abutment throughout, all of which tends to provide a neat and compact receptacle which is substantially closed all around and wherein there are no openings for dust and the like to enter.

If desired, the frame members may have end walls such as 8 provided with recesses [6 such as shown in Fig. 4:. In this way the folded portions 38 of the body member may be inserted therein and looped around the walls 8'.

As explained with reference to Fig. 5, the frames 6 may be opened to extended or display position. With the side walls 2 connected to the parts 8 of the frames in the manner just described, when the frames 6 are opened to a certain angular relation the walls 2 are caused to assume a different angular relation. In this way, as is seen from Fig. 8, access to the receptacle through the arms is permitted and it is possible for an observer to see the contents of the receptacle from almost any angle.

Also, if desired, the end walls 3 may have, in addition to the recesses if in their adjacent sides, other recesses 15 on their outer sides, as shown. In this way, no part of the loops 30 around these walls 8 extends above either the outer or inner marginal edges thereof.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 'I. Here, side arms it, like arms 5, are pivoted at 42 and their inner end parts are flattened out, as shown, to provide shoulders 44 and adjacent recesses so that the inner end portions seat in the manner described in reference to Fig. 5.

It will benoted that according to the preferred form of the invention, the receptacle is substantially rectangular in shape and that'the frame members are substantially U-shaped. It is desired to point out, however, that these shapes are not absolutely necessary to the practice of the invention, it being the more important that the frame members have some means for limiting the extended position thereof and be arranged to permit their inner marginal edges to be in abutment when in closed position.

While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to a preferred form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since many changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A receptacle of the class described comprising in combination, a pair of similar U shaped frame members having front portions and side arms extending therefrom, the said frame members being formed from strips of relatively thin material arranged to have relatively narrow inner edges disposed for abutment when the frames are in closed relation, and the faces of the strips being substantially in the same plane, relatively flat side walls disposed over outer sides of said frame members having marginal edges extending beyond the front portions and side arms thereof and a hinge portion extending from the side walls at the rear ends thereof around the rear ends of the side arms, means securing the said side walls to the frames, and hinge means associated with the rear ends of the arms of the frame to facilitate swinging of the frames between open and closed positions, the said frame members having recesses in their front portions below the plane of the inner edges thereof and the said means for securing the side walls to the frames including flexible loops secured to said walls enclosing said front portions of the frame members and lying in said recesses so that the inner edges of the frame members may abut when in closed relation, all adapted and arranged whereby the side walls are secured at their forward ends to the forward ends of the frames so that when the frames are open in a certain relative angular position the said side walls may assume another angular relation.

2. A receptacle of the class described comprising in combination, a pair of similar U shaped frame members having front portions and side arms extending therefrom, the said frame members being formed from strips of relatively thin material arranged to have relatively narrow inner edges disposed for abutment with the faces of the strips substantially in the same plane when the frames are in closed relation, relatively flat side walls disposed over said frame members having marginal edges extending beyond the front portions and side arms thereof and a hinge portion extending from the side walls at the rear ends thereof around the rear ends of the side arms, means securing the said side walls at their forward ends to the front portions of the frame members, and hinge means associated with the rear ends of the side arms of the frame members to facilitate swinging of the frame members between open and closed positions, the means securing the side walls to the frames including flexible loops secured to said side walls adjacent their front ends which receive the front portions of the frame members and the said front portions being provided with recesses extending below the plane of the inner edges in which the said loops are seated and do not extend above the plane of the said inner edges of the frames permitting said edges to abut when in closed relation, all adapted and arranged whereby the said frames may swing to a certain angular relation while to the front portions of the frame members may arms extending therefrom, thesaid frame mem-- bers being formed from strips of relatively thin material arranged to have'relatively narrow inner edges disposed forjabutment with thefaces of the strips substantially in the same plane when the frames are in closed relation, relatively flat side walls disposed'over outer sides of said frame members having marginal edges extend ing beyond the front portions and side arms thereof and a hinge portion extending from the side walls at the rear'ends thereof around the rear ends of the side arms, means securing the said side walls to the frames, hinge means associated with the rear ends of the arms of the frame to facilitate swinging of the frames between open and closed positions, the means securing the side walls to the frames including flexible loops carried by said walls at their front ends which receive the front portions of the frame members and the said portions being provided with recesses in which the loops are seated whereby the loops do not extend above the plane of the inner edges of the frames permitting said edges to abut when the frames are in closed relation, the said hinge means including portions of the side arms at the rear ends thereof which extend upwardly from the plane of their inner edges into overlapping relation and pivots extending therethrough, and stops associated with the rear ends of the arms to limit the open position of the frame members, all adapted and arranged whereby the frame members may be opened to a certain angular relation while the side walls secured at their forward edges to the front portions of the frame members may assume a different angular relation.

4. A receptacle of the class described compris- 7 ing in combination, a pair of similar U shaped frame members having front portions and side arms extending therefrom, the said frame members being formed from strips of relatively thin material arranged to have relatively narrow inner edges disposed for abutment with the faces of the strips substantially in the same plane when the frames are in closed relation, relatively flat side walls disposed over outer sides of said frame members having a hinge portion extending from the side walls at the rear ends thereof around the rear ends of the side arms, means securing the said side walls to the frames, hinge means associated with the rear ends of the arms of the frame to facilitate swinging of the frames between open and closed positions, the means securing the side walls to the frames including flexible loops carried by said walls at their front ends which receive the front portions of the frame members and the said portions being provided with recesses in which the loops are seated whereby the loops do not extend above the plane tending therethrough, and stops associated with the rear ends ofthe arms to limit the open position of the frame members, all adapted and arranged whereby the forward ends only of the side walls are secured to the front portions of may be opened to a certain angular relation while the side walls secured at their forward edges to the front portions' of'the frame members 'may assume a different angular relation.

5. A folding receptacle of the class described comprising in combination, a pair of similar U- shaped frames .each having a front'portio'n and a'pair of rearwardly extending side arms: having mainportions, the main portion of each side arm of one frame beingin substantially the same plane as the corresponding side arm of the other frame;

hinge connections at the rear ends of the side arms to facilitate swinging of the frames between closed and openrelation,'separate relatively flat side wall members outside the front portions and side arms of said frame members extending from the front portions thereof to adjacent the rear ends thereof and having free non-joined side marginal edges, a relatively flexible hinge member connecting the rear ends of said side wall members and extending around the rear hinged ends of the side arms of the frames, connectors securing the forward ends of the side wall members to the front portions of the frames and being the sole connections between said side wall members and frame members to facilitate relative movements of the said side arms and side wall members, the said side arms being so arranged that when the frames are in closed'relation the main portions of the side arms of one frame are in substantial parallelism with the main portions of the side arms of the other frame while the inner edges of adjacent side arms are in adjacency, all adapted and arranged whereby when the said frames are swung from closed to open position the side arms of the frames assume a certain angular relation and the side wall members may assume another angular relation permitting free access to the receptacle at its sides throughout the main portions of the side arms and between the side wall members.

6. A'folding receptacle of the class described comprising in combination, a pair of similar U- shaped frames each having a front portion and a pair of rearwardly extendiing side arms having main portions, the main portion of each side arm of one frame being in substantially the same plane as the corresponding side arm of the other frame, hinge connections at the rear ends of the side arms to facilitate swinging of the frames between closed and open relation, separate relatively flat side wall members outside the front portions and side arms of said frame members extending from the front portions thereof to adjacent the rear ends thereof and having free nonjoined side marginal edges, a relatively flexible hinge member connecting the rear ends of said side wall members and extending around the rear hinged ends of the side arms of the frames, connectors securing the forward ends of the side wall members to the front portions of the frames and being the sole connections between said side wall members and frame members to facilitate relative movements of the said side arms and side wall members, the said side arms being so aranged that when the frames are in closed relation the main portions of the side arms of one frame are in substantial parallelism with the main portions of the side arms of the other frame while the inner edges of adjacent side arms are in adjacency, all adapted and arranged whereby when the said frames are swung from closed to open position the frame members, and the fram'e member's' the side arms of the framesassume a certain assume another'angular relationv permitting. free;

acccess to: the receptacle at its sides throughout the main portions of the side arms and between hinge connections between the hinge portions of the side arms of said frames to facilitate swinging movements of the frames between an openand a closed relation, the side arms of one frame being substantially similar to theside arms'of the other frame and arranged whereby the side arms of one frame and: the corresponding arms of the other frame are in substantially the same described.

plane in allrelative-positions of the frameswhile when the frames are in closed relation the arms of the upper frame forwardly of the hinge portions thereof are. in substantial parallelism with corresponding portions of the lower frame arms,

side walls outside the front portion. and. side arms of eachframehaving free non-connected side edges,.a flexible hinge connecting the rear endsof the sidewalls, connections between each side wall and: thefr'amewhich it overlies leaving the side edges of the walls unconnected, all adapted and arranged whereby the said frames may be swung relative-to one another to a relative angular relation permitting free access into the receptacle at the sides thereof between the said side arms and walls. V

' a ,HAMILTON- C. BATES; 

